Two-piece carpet gripper and binder



Aug. 6, 1968 H. 1. HILL ETAL 3,395,420

TWO-PIECE CARPET GRIPPER AND BINDER Filed March 2l, 1966 HARVEY J H/LL, Z0 EARLE F PRATER United States Patent O TWO-PIECE CARPET GRIPPER AND BINDER Harvey J. Hill, Monterey Park, and Earle F. Prater, Long Beach, Calif., assignors to Roberts Consolidated Industries, Inc., City of Industry, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Mar. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 535,754 2 Claims. (Cl. 16-16) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A two-piece carpet gripper and binder for securing and covering a carpet edge. One of the pieces is metal and includes a Hoor-engaging base, a connecting strip integral with one edge of the base, and a carpet clamping flange integral with and overlying the connecting strip. The other piece comprises a wooden carpet gripper strip seated on the base and carrying carpet gripping prongs. The gripper strip is secured to the base by integral prongs on the base penetrating upwardly into the gripper strip. The base is scalloped so that portions of the gripper strip overlying it may be adhered directly to the floor.

Background of invention The present invention relates in general to a combination carpet gripper and binder for anchoring and covering carpet edges adjacent uncarpeted areas. More particularly, the invention relates to a two-piece carpet gripper and binder which includes a separate carpet gripper strip for anchoring the carpet edge which is to be covered by a carpet binding or clamping flange of the gripper and binder combination.

As background, the two-piece carpet gripper and binder of the invention includes as one main piece thereof a longitudinally extending base securable to the lioor along an edge of the area to be carpeted in a location spaced inwardly relative to the carpeted area from an adjacent uncarpeted area, longitudinally extending connecting means formed integrally with the base adjacent the outer edge thereof, and a longitudinally extending, carpet binding or clamping ange formed integrally with and overlying the connecting means and the corresponding edge of the carpeting which covers the carpeted area. The foregoing integral base, connecting means and carpet binding flange are preferably made of a metal such as aluminum.

The other main piece of the combination carpet gripper and binder of the invention comprises a longitudinally extending, carpet gripper strip seated on and secured to the aforementioned base and carrying carpet gripping means for securing the corresponding carpet edge. More particularly, the invention contemplates a nonmetallic, preferably wooden, gripper strip of the type having carpet hooking elements which project upwardly above the upper side or surface of the strip and which are inclined outwardly toward the outer edge of the strip to secure an edge of carpeting overlying the strip against inward movement relative to the carpeted area.

Summary and objects of invention With the foregoing as background, a primary object of the invention is to fasten the nonmetallic gripper strip to the metallic base with a securing means which projects upwardly from the base into and penetrates the gripper strip.

An improtant object of the invention is to provide a gripper-strip securing means which includes prongs formed integrally with and projecting upwardly from the base and driven into the gripper Strip.

Another object is to provide paired gripper-strip secur- 3,395,420 Patented Aug. 6, 1968 'ice ing prongs wherein the prongs of each pair are spaced apart laterally of the base and converge upwardly within the gripper strip to secure the gripper strip to the base in a permanent and positive manner. Another object is to so shape the prongs of each pair that they tend to curl inwardly toward each other as they are driven into the gripper strip, thereby providing a clinching action.

Another important object is to provide a scalloped base, i.e., to provide the base with longitudinally spaced notches extending from the inner edge of the base substantially to the outer edge thereof. A related object is to provide tabs between the notches having widths substantially equal to the corresponding widths of the notches themselves.

With the foregoing construction, two bases can be formed from a single length of metal little or no wider than each base, thereby resulting in a considerable saving of material, which is an important feature of the invention.

Another advantage of scalloping the base in the foregoing manner is that the open spaces between the tabs permit direct adhesion of the gripper strip to the floor in instances where securement by adhesion is desired, the gripper strip being sufliciently rigid to span the open spaces between the tabs while being supported by the tabs themselves.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results which will be evident to those skilled in the carpet gripping and binding art in the light of this disclsoure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiments of the invention `described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Description of drawing In the drawing:

FIG. l is an end view, on a reduced scale, of an extrusion from which two of the metallic components of the combination carpet gripper and binder of the invention may be made;

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the manner in which the extrusion of FIG. l is divided to form two of the metallic components of the carpet gripper and binder;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the combination carpet gripper and binder of the invention prior to securing it to a floor;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the combination carpet gripper and binder secured to the floor and showing a carpet edge anchored by a carpet gripper strip forming part of the combination;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG.. 4, but showing a carpet binding or clamping tiange in a position to clamp or bind the edge ofthe carpeting; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating a slightly modied embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiment of invention Referring initially to FIGS. 3 to 5 of the drawing, the combination carpet gripper and binder of the invention is designated generally therein by the numeral 10 and is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as secured to a oor 12 long one edge of a carpeted area 14 and adjacent an uncarpeted area 16. The carpeted area 14 is shown as covered by carpeting 18 laid over padding 20 and having an edge 22 secured and covered by the combination carpet gripper and binder 10 of the invention.

The combination carpet gripper and binder 10` is basically of two-piece construction and includes two main cornponents 24 and 26, the former being a one-piece metallic structure, preferably aluminum. The part 26 is shown as a conventional wooden carpet gripper strip 14 having metallic carpet gripping prongs 28 which project upwardly above the upper surface of the gripper strip into the carpeting 18 adjacent the edge 22 thereof. As is conventional, fthe carpet gripping prongs 28 are inclined upwardly and Voutwardly relative to the carpeted area 14 so as to anchor l.the carpeting 18 against inward movement relative to the carpeted area, against the normal tension in the carpeting which is produced upon installation. Preferably, the Carpet gripper. strip 26 is provided with beveled upper @corners 30 to prevent the carpeting wear which sharp .corners would produce.

Considering the part 24 of the combination carpet gripper and binder in more detail, it includes a longitudinally extending, flat base 32 engageable with the oor 12 along the edge of the carpeted area 14 which is ad jacent the uncarpeted area 16. Considered with reference to the carpeted area 14, the base 32 includes laterallyspaced inner and outer longitudinally edges 34 and 36.

Formed integrally with the base 32 adjacent the outer edge 36 thereof is a longitudinally extending connecting means or strip 38 which projects laterally outwardly from the outer edge of the base. Formed integrally with the outer edge of and overlying the connecting means 38 is a carpet binding or clamping flange 40. This flange includes an outer edge 42 engageable with the uncarpeted area 16 of the floor 12, and includes a downturned inner edge 44 engageable with the carpeting 18 generally above the outer edge 36 of the base 32.

The connecting strip 38 is angle shaped in cross section and includes a relatively short, generally vertical leg 46 formed integrally with the outer edge 36 of the base 32, and a generally horizontal leg 48 formed integrally with the outer edge 42 of the carpet binding flange 40. The generally vertical leg 46 of the angle-shaped connecting strip 38 provides a generally upright shoulder 50, the gripper strip 26 being seated on the base 32 and against the shoulder 50.

In accordance with the invention, the gripper strip 26 is connected to the base 32 in a permanent and positive manner by a securing means 52 which is formed integrally with the base and which projects upwardly into and penetrates the gripper strip. More particularly, the securing means 52 comprises longitudinally spaced pairs of upwardly-struck, pointed prongs 54 formed integrally with the base 32. The gripper strip 26 is secured to the base 32 by pressing the gripper strip and the base together so as to drive the prongs 54 upwardly into the gripper strip, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 of the drawing.

To enable the prongs 54 to secure the gripper strip 26 to the base 32 in a permanent and positive manner, the prongs 54 of each pair converge upwardly. Additionally, the portions of the points of the prongs of each pair which face away from each other are rounded or beveled, as indicated at 56. With this construction, when the prongs of each pair are driven into the gripper strip 26, the rounded or beveled portions 56 of the prongs tend to cause the prongs of eachv pair to curl inwardly toward each other to increase the upward convergence thereof. Thus, a clinching action is achieved which secures the gripper strip 26 to the base 32 in a Very positive manner, which is an important feature. A similar effect can be achieved by making the prongs of each pair diverge upwardly, and by providing the points thereof with rounded or beveled surfaces which face toward each other.

The foregoing construction provides a connection between the base 32 and the gripper strip 26 which is simple and positive, and which is also inexpensive since it requires no additional parts or material.

An alternative way of securing the gripper strip 26 to the base 32 is to strike the prongs 54 upwardly with the gripper strip clamped to the base, so that the prongs are forced upwardly into the base as they are formed. In this case, the prongs 54 are preferably bent through angles exceeding 90 to obtain a. clinching elfect. Another a1- ternative is to secure the base and the gripper strip together with an adhesive.

The combination carpet` gripper and binder 10 of the invention may be secured to the oor 12 in various ways (the foregoing means for securing the gripper strip 26 to the base ,32l being used during shipping, handling, and the like, only, andnotlto secure the gripper strip against carpet stretching forces). For example, the carpet gripper and binder 10 may be nailed to the iioor by means of longitudinally spaced r1ailsone. of which is identified by the numeral 58 in FIG. 4, extending downwardly through the gripper strip 26 and the base 32 into the iloor. Such nails may be preset in the wooden gripper strip 26. Alternatively, the base 32 may be secured to the iloor 12 by means of a suitable adhesive. In this event, portions of the gripper strip 26 are adhered directly to the floor 12 also, as will be discussed in more detail hereinafter in considering FIGS. l and 2 of the drawing.

Prior to securing the carpet gripper and binder 10 to the floor 12, the generally horizontal leg 48 of the connecting strip 38 is preferably so' oriented that the outer edge 42 of the carpet binding llange 40 engages the floor to hold the outer edge 36 `of the base 32 slightly olf the floor, as illustrated in FIG. 3. With this construction, when the base 32 is in full engagement with the iloor 12 upon nailing or adhering the carpet gripper and binder 10 to the lloor, the outer edge 42 of the carpet binding flange 40 is pressed rrnly against the oor to exclude water, dirt, and the like.

If the carpeted and uncarpeted areas 14 and `16 of the tloor 12 are both at the same level, the generally horizontal leg 48 of the connecting strip 38 slopes outwardly and downwardly slightly to the outer edge 42 of the carpet binding flange 40, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 of the drawing. In the event that the uncarpeted area 16 is raised slightly relative to the carpeted area 14, due to the presence of an existing floor covering `60, such as linoleum, tile, or the like, the leg 48 of the connecting strip 38 is substantially horizontal to elevate the outer edge 42 of the carpet binding flange 40 4to the level of the upper surface of the existing oor covering 60. This `condition is illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawing.

In either event, after the combination carpet gripper and binder 10 has been nailed, adhered, or otherwise secured, to the floor 12, and the corresponding carpeting edge 22 has been hooked over the prongs 28 carried by the gripper strip 261, the carpet binding or clamping ange 40 is bent downwardly over the carpeting edge 22, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. This may be accomplished by hammering, the carpet binding flange 40 preferably being thinned slightly adjacent its junction with the connecting strip 38, as indicated' at `62, to facilitate bending it downwardly into binding or clamping engagement with the carpeting edge.

Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, an important feature of the inventionis to employ an extrusion 64 from which two of the metallic components 24 of the carpet gripper and binder 10 of the' invention may be made. More particularly, the extrusion 64 includes two of the components 24 interconnected by a web 66 from which two of the bases 32 may be made by shearing the web along what might best be described as a generally zigzag line 68, FIG. 2.

The end result is that each base 32 formed from the connecting web 66 is provided with a scalloped or serrated inner edge 34. Expressed differently, theinner edge 34 of each base 32 is provided with longitudinally spaced notches 70 extending substantially to the outer edge 36 thereof, leaving tabs 72` between the notches 70. The notches and tabs 70 and 72, which are shown as trapezoidal in plan, preferably have the same widths at corresponding locations. The paired prongs 54 for securing the gripper strip 26 are formed in the tabs 72, one pair of prongs 54 beingshown in each tab 72, although there may be one pair in every other tab, or otherwise.

The most important thing about making the base 32 of each combination carpet gripper and -binder i in the foregoing manner is that it saves considerable material without sacrificing strength. More specifically, the gripper strip 26 has suliicient strength to permit it to span the notches 70 between the tabs 72 without any significant reduction in the over-all strength of the combination carpet gripper and binder 10.

Another result of the foregoing scalloped configuration for the base 32 is that if the combination carpet gripper and binder 10` is adhered to the door 12, direct adhesion of the gripper strip 26 to the door is achieved throughout those portions of the gripper strip which span the notches 70, provided that a relatively thick, mastictype adhesive is used. Thus, not only is the gripper strip 26 secured to the floor 12 through the base 32 and its integral prongs 54, but it is directly secured to the floor through the adhesive lling the spaces between the gripper strip and the oor vwithin the notches 70.

Still another advantage of the scalloped base 32 is that it reduces the Weight of the combination carpet gripper and binder 10 per unit of length, thereby reducing handling and shipping costs.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiments Without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened by the claims which appear in the next section hereof.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a two-piece carpet gripper and binder, the com bination of:

(a) a longitudinally extending, licor-engaging base having laterally spaced, inner and outer edges and provided in its inner edge with longitudinally spaced notches extending substantially to its outer edge;

(b) longitudinally extending connecting means formed integrally with said 4base adjacent said outer edge thereof;

(c) a longitudinally extending, carpet clamping liange formed integrally with and overlying said connecting means;

(d) a separate, longitudinal-ly extending, carpet gripper strip seated on said base and carrying carpet gripping means;

(e) said gripper strip having portions overlying said notches to provide for direct adhesion of such portions of said gripper strip to a lioor on which said base is seated; and

(f) securing means on and formed integrally with said lbase and projecting upwardly into and penetrating said gripper strip for securing said gripper strip t0 said base.

2. In a two-piece `carpet gripper and binder, the combination of:

(a) a longitudinally extending, floor-engaging base having laterally spaced, inner and outer edges;

(b) said inner edge of said base being provided with longitudinally spaced notches extending substantially to said outer edge thereof;

(c) longitudinally extending connecting means formed integrally with said lbase adjacent said outer edge thereof;

(d) a longitudinally extending, carpet clamping liange formed integrally with and overlying said connecting means;

(e) a separate, longitudinally extending, carpet gripper strip seated on said base and carrying carpet gripping means;

(f) said gripper strip having portions overlying said notches to provide for direct adhesion of such portions of said gripper strip to a iloor on which said base is seated; and

(g) means for securing said gripper strip to said base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,514,335 7/1950 Owens 16--16 2,634,453 4/1953 Brownstein 16-16 3,208,095 9/ 1965 Hill 1616 3,208,096 9/1965 Linsky 16--16 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

DORIS L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

